How can you get the most out of a major event like the huge tasting sponsored by the Schneider's of Capitol Hill wine shop on Saturday, Oct. 9, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where some three dozen importers and distributors were offering samples of more than 200 wines?

There's no practical way to taste them all, so your options are clear: Take a random walk, sampling whatever you encounter (not entirely a bad idea) ... or spend a few moments making a coherent plan before you dive in to the mob scene. I discuss my strategy for handing the Schneider's tasting in this week's edition of The 30 Second Wine Advisor. Here are my notes on the two dozen wines at the tasting that I chose for closer analysis. Prices listed are the distributors' suggested retail; most of these wines were on sale for lower prices during the event:

Feuillate 1992 Palmes d'Or ($130) - Sleek in a pebble-grained bottle, this high-end Champagne, presumably being pushed as a Millennial quaff, was frankly a bit disappointing. Pale straw in color, it's full and dry, but didn't show me a compelling reason to pay more than four times the price of Feuillate's non-vintage cuvee.

Condado de Haza 1996 Ribera del Duero ($23) - The list showed that the newly arrived 1997 vintage would be on hand, but the previous year showed up at the tasting. It's still a delight, showing earthy "barnyard" aromas and ripe dark fruit.

Penfolds 1996 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon ($40) - Black in color. Tight and closed black-fruit and dill aromas; showing more on the palate than the nose, a load of rich fruit and substantial tannins.

Domaine de Cabasse 1996 Cotes du Rhone ($25) - Pretty ruby color, showing a load of strawberries in the aroma and a ripe bowl of fruit on the palate. Excellent wine, although a startling price for a Cotes-du-Rhone.